My days are numbered

When we read scripture it is important to know what the author is trying to get across. Sometimes we think we understand, or perhaps are just plain confused because a word used means something in our day and age that it didn’t mean the same thing to those alive, when it was written. I say all this because we run into this issue in our passage today. When the author says that he is fearfully and wonderfully made, it can be a little puzzling. Wonderfully, I get it. Meant the same then as it does today. However, fearfully…. not so much. In today’s dictionary the definition is: in an anxious manner; apprehensively or dreadfully; extremely, uneasily, nervously, timidly, hesitantly, with one’s heart in one’s mouth. Dear sister, this is not at all the thought process that The Lord had when He was creating you. In our text, the word actually meant awesome. Go figure. I think it was a poets thing. None the less, it really changes how we understand and feel about what the author is saying here.

Another way that this text could be rephrased might sound something like this; I thank you because I am so wondrously and mysteriously made, because all of your works are so marvelous, you know me completely.

How do you feel now? Cherished? Loved? Wanted? Accepted even? This is a case for studying your bible. It can make all the difference. It is one way you can get to know your amazing Creator on a more personal level. Back on topic….

This part of the chapter is very clear that God makes no mistakes. There should be a certain amount of respect for life. ALL LIFE! This goes for those considering abortion and or suicide. Your life is precious and was made with purpose. God knew how many days you would live out; He is keeping track of our lives. The ups and the downs. The good times and the bad. He knows all of it, but He doesn’t expect you to endure them all on your own. He wants you to know that you are worth having around. God wants you to know that He made you just so, with just the right amount of days to live out here on this earth. However, if you are still feeling like an alien, it is possibly because this world is not your forever home. We are just visitors here. I realize that is an even more difficult concept to wrap your head around, but it is true. God doesn’t just want to help you when the hard times come, but He wants to celebrate the great times of blessing too. The more intimate your relationship with Yahweh is, the less worthless you will feel. Spend time with Him, and dwell in His good news. Rest in His love. Yes, our days are numbered, every day we are one day closer to spending eternity with our Heavenly Father. Let Him do a good work in you. Allow Him to sanctify you so that you are that much more ready to be welcomed into the kingdom. Make your day’s count, and don’t cut them short!

No escape!

Yesterday, we were reassured with the comfort that God knows all, and still loves us. Today, the Psalmist praises God and His ability to be everywhere all at once. It follows his admiration with one of caution. Our psalmist is simply saying that you cannot escape Yahweh’s presence. Now, you have two options; first, you can look at that with fear choosing to focus on all your flaws, believing the lies of the enemy. OR choice two, where you can choose to see it as our author did. He saw this as a promise, despite his flaws, his sin, his poor choices, God isn’t going to abandon you when you need Him the most. There’s no place that you can go physically or mentally that He too cannot go. No matter where we find ourselves, the Holy Spirit will be there with us. We’re never beyond the knowledge, care, or love of God! God is always available to lead, guide, and help sustain us.

In the last two verses of today’s passage, our author uses the example of light and darkness to express our own inability to escape and or hide from the sight of our far reaching Godhead, three in one. The Psalmist notes that there is no difference between light and darkness to God because His is always in control of them both. This is to say that we can’t hide from God in the darkness any more than we can in the light.

You see, there is nothing we can do to fly under the Yahweh’s radar. We can’t hide behind a mask that we put forth for other people. Don’t let this scare you, but rather inspire you. Dear sister there’s no escaping God, so let your actions reflect His love so that others may see Him through you.

Details, Details, Details!

As we come to the last few days of our worthiness study, I really want to dive deep into the main passage behind it all. Whenever you begin to doubt your worthiness, and whether or not you can be vulnerable with the world, you can always come back to this chapter for encouragement. This is MY favorite chapter in the whole Bible!

Today we will look at the first 6 verses. These verses specifically focus on the incomprehensible knowledge Yahweh has of the author and his life. You see we are always hiding because we can’t fathom a world where we would still be accepted if everyone knew everything that there is to know about our lives. Here in this passage it is clear that God knows everything the author thinks, says, or does. He says that Yahweh has searched him and knows him. The phrase search can be translated as; investigated, have seen my heart, have looked at my innermost. ‘Know me’ can also look like; you know everything or there is nothing you don’t know. This passage covers every single thing the author does on a day to day basis. Everything he does, says, thinks, everyplace he goes, sleeps, wakes up… EVERY SINGLE DETAIL!! God knows all of it before it ever happens.

We have talked about vulnerability and being 100% authentic with the world. Extending grace instead of expecting perfection. For me these first 6 verses are very comforting. It challenges me to maintain a level of integrity that would please the Lord. It also provides me with a sense of trust, I like knowing that my day bears no surprise to God. So He won’t be “caught off guard”, which means that if I rely on Him all day… No matter what the day has in store… I’m going to be fine. How do I know? How can I be sure? Verse 5 describes a hedge of protection. He lays His hand of protection upon us… When we ask for it, and sometimes even when we don’t.

Then we get down to the last verse of today’s passage. Such knowledge describes a full and complete knowledge of our author’s entire life, and instead of cowering in fear, the Psalmist praises God for the depth and degree to which God actually knows him. He continues with the compliment, and acknowledgment that it is so amazing that it is often difficult to comprehend.

When we focus on how much our Heavenly Father knows, and chooses to love despite all of our details, the ones known to the world and those that are hidden to the world. Thinking on this concept can be so deep it is difficult to wrap our mind around it. It is especially difficult when we allow the enemy to whisper lies to us. The lies that say “No one loves you”. The lies that say “you are just too big of a sinner for God to love you… much less any human being on this planet.”